computer-friendly way of accessing ifconfig

[coypu%SDF.ORG@localhost]

hi,

I'd like to write code that works with the input or output typically
done with ifconfig.
as an example, I would like to know, say, which interfaces are wireless
and which are wired, as they tend to be controlled differently, and
whether they are up.

my options currently seem to be:
1. parse the output
2. make my own modified ifconfig

is there another one?

thanks.